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Two giant pandas are expected to double visitor numbers to Adelaide Zoo after they arrive in about 12 months।
The pandas, Wangwang and Funi, will come to Adelaide on loan from China and and it is hoped the pair will breed to help ensure the survival of the endangered species.
They are expected to be a major attraction for tourists from interstate and overseas.
A spokesman said about 400,000 people currently visit the zoo each year but that could double within two years of the arrival of Wangwang and Funi. That's what happened at San Diego Zoo in the United States after two pandas took up residence.
The Federal Government today pledged $5 million to build a state-of-the-art panda enclosure if it is returned at next month's election.
"We are delighted to announce the funding today on behalf of the Coalition Government which will allow the zoo to host the only pair of pandas in the southern hemisphere," Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said.
"The pandas are expected to arrive in the next 12 months and will require a purpose-built enclosure to maximise their comfort, breeding potential and allow visitors to enjoy a unique wildlife experience."
The panda loan was formalised by Prime Minister John Howard and Chinese President Hu Jintao during the recent APEC conference in Sydney.
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